SERIES four of Grantchester was an emotional one, what with the exit of the much-loved Reverend Sidney Chambers, played by James Norton.
But, luckily, he passed on his dog collar to the equally charming Reverend Will Davenport – a character who is returning for series five.
Played by Tom Brittney the vicar will once again be working alongside his friend, Detective Inspector Geordie Keating (Robson Green), to solve mysteries in their small Cambridgeshire village.
WHAT HAS THE REACTION TO WILL BEEN LIKE?
Tom: I did want to see what people thought, so I'd look at the Grantchester hashtag on Twitter. I know that it's a dangerous thing to do, as anyone can speak their mind. But I had to have a little idea of how it went.
Luckily there was pretty much nothing but good stuff, and that's not just down to me; I think it's the writers, who made it easier for people to bear losing James [Norton], and then bringing me in, they did it in such a nice way.
HOW WOULD YOU SUM UP SERIES FIVE?
Tom: It's 1957. Harold Macmillan, Prime Minister at the time, said, "Britain's never had it so good". That's the way that people lived their lives, a very British thing; "Everything is good, everything is great". And it seems like that. Will is really fitting into the village, the congregation is bigger than it's ever been and everyone's accepting him. Geordie's marriage with his wife is better than ever.
Robson: Geordie's theory of life is that nothing good ever lasts. And, sadly, secrets and lies manifest themselves in the most shocking way.
Tom: In the modern day, people are good at being more accepting of talking about their feelings, and mental health. But it's only within the last 10 years that that's really started to happen, so you can imagine how different it was in the 1950s. Some people might have been diagnosed with something, but we all have our own little issues, or big issues, that we're all dealing with, and I think this series goes into those issues.
HOW DO WE SEE WILL AND GEORDIE'S RELATIONSHIP DEVELOP?
Robson: Will has no experience of war and the terrible destruction that took place. Will has never seen that and Geordie has, so there is often that feeling from Geordie that Will has no idea what he's talking about because he hasn't lived that experience.
There is also that lovely argumentative aspect of their relationship but done in a likeable way. In a way, Will sometimes comes across as a petulant teenager and Geordie to Will comes across as a grumpy old dad! The father and son aspect of the relationship is cemented in this series. And looking out for each other, the love for one another and mindfulness for one another is very strong in this series.
GRANTCHESTER OFTEN EXPLORES DIFFICULT STORIES AND THEMES
Tom: A lot of people put it in the 'cosy crime' category, which I think this series will prove to you that it's not; I don't like that term anyway, because I don't know how you can have 'cosy crime'. It's a murder show, people get murdered. But, this series especially, takes my character to some real dark depths.
As an actor, they really put me through the mill. We allow ourselves to really go to these emotional places, and we allow ourselves to go through that for entertainment. It's an odd thing when you think about it.
:: Grantchester returns to ITV on Friday January 10
